Sprinkler fire extinguishing system



y 25, 3 w. B. GRIFFITH 1,919,507

SPRINKLER FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 13, 1930 Patentecl July25, 1933 UNITED STATES v mister PATENT Fret WILLIAM B. GRIFFITH, FAUDUBON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO STAR SPRINKLER CORPORATION,

JERSEY SPRINKLER FIR-n nxrrneorsnrne SYSTEM Application filed October13, 1930.; Serial No. 488,241.

My invention relates to improvementsin a sprinkler fire extinguishingsystem, and particularly to sprinkler systems of the wet type havingwater under pressure within the system for supplying water to thedistributing pipes and the sprinkler heads.

The object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler system of the wettype for buildings which are not subjected to freezing temperature, andprovide extensions, or extension pipes, to the system which may belocated in portions of the building, or surrounding buildings, which areexposed to freezing temperature, without danger of the extensionsfreezing, or the system being impaired by freezing; a further object isto provlde a main sprinkler system containing water and extensionsthereto containing a pressure me dium which may be air, or gas, or anywell known non-freeze liquid; a still further object is toprovide meanswhich may be'in the form of a check valve located between-the mainsystem and the extension pipe for preventing the water from the mainsystem from entering the extension pipe through the check valve when thesprinkler heads on the extension pipe are closed; a still further objectis to provide means for maintaining the pressure medium in the extensionpipe under a pressure which is relatively greater than the pressure ofthe water in the main system whereby the differential pressure isadapted for retaining the check valve in the closed position, thuspreventing water entering the extension pipe where 'it would freeze andalso, when the pressure medium is in the formiof a non-freeze liquid,the water will be prevented from entering, the extension pipe and mixingwith the non-freeze liquid and diluting the same sufliciently to make itliable to freeze; a stillfurther object is to provide a pressureresponsive device connected with the extension pipe for yieldingly'exerting a pressure upon the pressure medium inthe extension pipes tocompensate for any 7 reduction of ressure due to leaka e.

A still further object is to provide an ac cumulator and a stand pipeconnected there with containing mercury, to form the pres sureresponsive device which is connected with the extension pipe; a stillfurther object is to provide means' for injecting the pressure mediuminto the extension pipe and subjecting the same under a pressure greaterthan the pressure upon the water. contained in the main system,whie-hgr'eater pressure acts against the check valve tending to closethe same and also acts against the pressure responsive device, so thatthe latter will maintain the pressure medium under a nearly uniformpressure; and a still further object is to likeiparts, 1 represents adistributing pipe" connected with a. riser 2, and 3 representsa mainvalve, forming part of a sprinkler system of the wet type, such as nowin general use and well known inthe art. The distributor pipe 1 of thesprinkler system is shown located within a room 4: of a buildingindicated by the vertical wall 5, the floor 6, and the ceiling 7. thesystem 1 is located is heated to prevent the water'within the systemfromfreezing. The usual sprinkler heads 8 are connected with thedistributorpipe of the main system. A check valve 10. is located inftheheated room 4, and is connected with the pipe 1 leading from the system.

Said check valve 10 having a clapper 11 connected with an extension pipel2forms part of an extension to the main system. Said pipe 12 extends toa portion or room 9 of the building beyond the wall 5, which issubjected to freezing temperature. The extension pipe 12 is providedwith pipe connections 13 upon which the sprinkler head 14, of the usualtype, are mounted for protecting the building against damage by fire.

A branch pipe15, is connected with the extension pipe 12 and also with apipe 16 connected with a pump 18 having an inlet pipe 19, provided witha cup or funnel 20 Suitable valves 21 and22 are connected in the pip-es16 and 19 at opposite sidesof the with a shut off valve 23. Theextension pipe 12, the pipe connections 13, and the branch pipe 15 arefilled with a pressure medium, preferably a non-freeze liquid, which is.

01'' PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COREOBATION OF NEW The room 4:" inwhich pump 18, and the pipe 16 is also provided poured into the cup 20and forced by the pump 18 through the branch pipe 15. The check valve 10is positioned so that the clapper 11 will be maintained in the closedposition by the pressure in the extension pipe 12 so that the non-freezeliquid will not pass into the distributor pipe 1 of the system.

An accumulator tank 25 is connected by a pipe 26 with the branch pipe15, and said tank is also connected at the lower portion thereof withapipe 27 having suitable fittings 28 and 29for clamping a'gageglass 30between said fittings. The lower fitting 29 has connected thereto apipe32 which in turn is connected with a stand pipe 33, which latter may beext-ended to any suitable height within the building, or above thebuilding if necessary. The stand pipe 33 is open to the atmospherethrough an over-flow fitting or retaining cup 34; The tank 25 isprovided with a filling cup 36 through which mercury may be poured forpartially filling the tank 25 andthe U-shaped connections formed by thegage glass 30, the fitting 29, and the pipes 32 and 33. The cup36 isclosed by a plug 37 after the mercury is inserted. i

The pressure medium, in the form of air, or any non-freeze liquid isforced by the pump 18 into the tank 25 above the mercury,

thusfilling the pipes 12, 1.3, 15, 16, and26. By means of the pump 18,the pressure medium is subjected to a pressure which is greater than thepressure upon the water in the. sprinkler system including the ,pipe 1.The pressure applied by the pump 18 forces the mercury into the standpipe 33, until the line between the mercury and the air or nonfreezeliquid is visible within the limits of the glass 30, thus formingapressure 'respon.

'sive device adapted for maintaining a nearly uniform pressure withinthe extension pipe 12 due to the weight of the mercury, The greaterpressure in the pipe'12 acts against the clapper of the check valve 10keeping the latter closed'against the lower pressure in the pipe 1 ofthe main sprinkler system. thus preventing the leakage of water from thepipe 1, through the check valve 10.

Suitable pressure gages 40 and 4.1 are located at opposite sides of thecheck valvelfi for showing the relative pressures in the ex tension orpipe 12 and the pipe 1, with which the gages are connected. The gageglass 30 provides means for detecting any reduction in the pressure inthe extension pipe 12. as the level of the low side of the mercurycolumn, when under pressure, will be located within the limits of thegage glass 30, whereby the pressure may be observed. through the gageglass. When the fire extinguisher system is opened by the opening of asprinkler head 14-.

connected with the extension pipe 12, the

, pressure medium, or non-freeze liquid, will pass from the pipe 12through the open heads 14, thereby relieving the pressure from withinthe pipe 12 and allowing the check valve 10 to open, thus allowing thewater from the distributor pipe 1 of the main system to pass throughthecheck valve 10, and the extension pipe 12 to the sprinkler heads 14.The pressure in the branch pipe 15and the accumulator tank 25 will berelieved or reduced when the sprinkler heads 14 are opened so that themercury which was forced up the stand pipe 33 will return and beaccumulated in the tank 25, which latter is of sutlicient capacity toretain all of the mercury.

When the system is operated by the open ing of a sprinkler head 8 thepressure medium in the pipe 12 will be prevented from entering thedistributing pipe 1 by the closed position of the clapper of the checkvalve 10, so that there will be no loss of the non-freeze liquid. r iAir may be utilized as the pressure medium instead of the non-freezeliquid, which is used in the preferred operation of my invention. Theair maybe-forced into the system by the pump 18 under a sufficientpressure to displace the mercury from the accumulator tank 25, whichwillcause the air pressure to hold the check valve 10 in the closed positionagainst a lower water pressure in the distributor pipe lot the system,thus preventing the water from entering the extension pipe 12 where itwould freeze under a low temperature. The

vated position in the stand pipe will compensate for slight losses inair pressure due to leakage in pipes 12 and 15, thus maintaining the airat a higher pressure than that of the water inthe distributor pipe 1 ofthe main systemr 'My improved sprinkler system provides means forutilizing a sprinkler system of the wet type for buildings havingcertain portions thereof which are not heated and in which the'ordinarywet type system could not be used without freezing.

My invention provides means for preventing the admission of waterthroi'igh' the check valve 10 into the extension pipe 12, and it alsoprevents the dilution of the non-freeze liquid in the extension pipes,whiclr'would make it liable to freeze. V

' Various changes in the construction and arrangementof the parts may bemade without departing from my invention.

I claim': 1. A sprinkler system comprising a distributing pipe connectedwith a wet type sprinkler system containing 7 water under pressure, anextension pipe containing a non-- freeze medium, a check valve connectedbetween the distributing pipe and the extension pipe positioned toautomatically open toward the extension pipe, said distributing pipe,said valve, and a portion of said extension pipe located in an area notsubjectto freezing temperatures, a sprinkler head responsive to fireconditions connected with the extension pipe, said head and a portion ofthe extension pipe located in an area subject to freezing temperatures,a branch pipe connected with the extension pipe, a U-shaped pipe havingone leg connected with the branch pipe and extending downwardlytherefrom, the other leg being open, mercury in both legs of saidU-shaped pipe, the open ended leg being of such a height as to establishtherein a difference in heights of the columns of mercury sufficient toproduce on the check valve a pressure capable of maintaining it seatedagainst pressure of water in the distributing pipe, and means forsubjecting the non-freeze medium to pressure connected in communicationwith the extension pipe at a point above the level of the mercury insaid first mentioned leg whereby the pressure up on the non-freezemedium will act against the mercury in the. second mentioned leg andagainst, the check valve.

2. A sprinkler system comprising a distributing pipe connected with awet type sprinkler system containing water under pressure, an extensionpipe containing a nonfreeze medium, a check valve connected between thedistributing pipe and the extension pipe positioned to automaticallyopen toward the extension pipe, said distributing pipe, said valve, anda portion of said extension pipe located in an area not subject tofreezing temperatures, a sprinkler head responsive to fire, conditionsconnected with the extension pipe, said head and a portion of theextension pipe located in an area subject to freezingtemperatures, anaccumulator tank connected with the extension pipe, a U- shaped pipehaving one leg connected with 'said tank and extending downwardlytherefrom, the other leg being open, mercury in said tank and in bothlegs of said U-shaped pipe, the open ended leg being of such height asto establish therein a difi'erence in heights of the columns of mercurysuflicient to pro-- duce on the check valve a pressure capable ofmaintaining it seated against pressure of water in the distributingpipe, and means for subjecting the non-freeze medium to pressureconnected in communication with theextension pipe at a point above thelevel of the mercury-in said tank, whereby the pressure upon thenon-freeze medium will act against the mercury in the second mentionedleg and against the check valve.

3. A sprinkler system comprising a distributing pipe connected with awet type sprinkler system containing water under pressure, an extensionpipe containing a non- 7 pipe, said valve, and a portion of saidextension plpe located man area not sub ect to freezing temperatures, asprinkler head responsive to fire conditions it connected with theextenslon p1pe,sa1d head and a portion of the extension pipe located inan area sub ject to freezing temperatures, an accumulator tank connectedwiththe extension pipe, a U-shaped pipe havingone legconncctedwith saidtank and extending downwardly therefrom, the other leg being open,mercury in said tank and in both legs of said U-shaped pipe, the openended leg being of such a height-as to establish therein a difference inheights of the columns otmercury sufiicient to produce on the checkvalve a pressure capable of maintaining it seated against pressure ofwater in the distributing pipe, and a pump connected with the extensionpipe above the level of the mercury in the tank for forcing'thenon-freeze medium into the extension pipe and subjecting the same to apressure acting against the mercury in the second mentionedleg andagainst the check valve.

"4 A sprinkler system comprising a distributing pipe connected with awet type sprinkler system containing water under pressure, an extensionpipe containing a nonfreeze medium a check valve connected be- 7 2 tweenthe d1str1but1n 1 e and the extension w P pipe posltloned toautomatically open toward the extension )1 3e said distributin 1 e n 7 1a a I said valve, and a portion of said extenslon pipe located in anarea not sub ect to freezing temperatures, a sprinkler head responsiveto fire condit ons connected with the extension plpe, said head and aportion of the extension pipe located in an area sub ect to freezingtemperatures, an accumulator tank connected with-the extension pipe, astand pipe, a gage glass connected between. the lower portion of thetank and'the lower end of the stand pipe, mercury in said tank, saidgage glass and in the standpipe, said stand pipe having its upper endopen, said stand pipe beingof such'height above the level of the mercuryin the tank to establish therein a difference in heights of the columnsof mercury suflicient to produce on the check valve a pressure capableof maintaining it seated against pressure of water in the distributingpipe, and a pump connected with the extension pipe above the level ofthe mercury in said tank for forcing the non-freeze medium into theextension pipe and subjecting the same to a pressure acting against themercury in the stand pipe and against the check valve for holding thelatter closed 1 against the water pressure in the distributing pipe. r l

WILLIAM B. GRIFFITH.

